Easily-assembled lampshade

ABSTRACT

A lampshade includes two hoops, each snapping into a channel in one of a pair of resilient strips, the strips being clipped onto the top and bottom edges of a frustoconical piece of shade material. The upper strip may have any of several forms and may include two channels, one for the hoop and one for a shadesupporting cross piece.

United States Patent [72] Inventors Barrie Edmund White; [56] ReferencesCited Christopher Jarvis Edmund White, The UNITED STATES PATENTS g zl'f? E peersfield 2,1 17,890 5/1938 Johnson ..240/108B(UX) amps 2,252,5828/1941 Schwarz 240 108 [21] Appl. No. 738,568

22 d J 20 1968 2,302,266 11/1942 Sher 240/108 g 2,483,354 9/1949Stiffel.. 240/108 [32] Priority Jan. 18, 1968 2,677,756 5/1954 Pnester240/108 [3 3] Great Britain Primary Examiner-lohn M. Horan [3 1 No.2830/68 Assistant ExaminerKenneth C. Hutchison 1 Attorney-Wenderoth,Lind and Ponack [54] LAMPSHADE ABSTRACT: A lampshade includes two hoops,each snapping alms rawmg into a channel in one of a pair of resilientstrips, the strips [52] US. Cl 240/108 being clipped onto the top andbottom edges of a frustoconical [51] Int. Cl F2lv 1/00 piece of shadematerial. The upper strip may have any of [50] Field of Search 240/108,several forms and may include two channels, one for the hoop and one fora shade-supporting cross piece.

' BARME Emunu wmrs mu CHRISTOPHER JARVIS EMMJM WH mvl l5,EASILY-ASSEMBLED LAMPSIIADE The invention relates to lampshades andmore particularly but not solely to a new and improved lampshadeassembly kit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a kit for making a lampshadewhich may be easily made up from parts, and dismantled again.

A further object is to provide a kit for forming a lampshade comprisingat least one hoop, a piece of flexible covering material, and aresilient preformed flexible strip which is at least as long as thecircumference of the hoop, the strip having a constant cross sectionproviding a portion attached to one edge of the material and a portionshaped to provide a channel with a mouth of lesser width than thethickness of the hoop into which channel the hoop may be sprung so thatthe strip and hence the,covering material may be attached resiliently tothe hoop to form a lampshade.

A still further object is to provide a lampshade comprising a hoop, aresilient preformed flexible strip having a constant cross sectionproviding two portions and frustoconical lampshade cover attached to thestrip, wherein the first portion of the strip is attached to one edge ofthe frustoconical cover, and the second portion is shaped to provide achannel with a mouth of lesser width than the thickness of the hoop intowhich the hoop is sprung.

Some specific embodiments of a lampshade according to the invention anda method of assembling the same will now be described with reference tothe accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a cross-sectional side view of a partly assembled lampshade;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the top circled portion ofthe lampshade shown in FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a fastening device orflexible strip used in the construction of the lampshade;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of analternative form of the flexiblestrip with the hoop and the crossmember in the channels; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a second alternative form of theflexible strip.

In FIG. 1 a lampshade comprises a covering material 11 attached at itsends to upper and lower resilient strips 12 and 13 respectively, thelower end of the lampshade being of larger dimensions than the upperend.

Each strip l2, I3 is of extruded or rolled resilient plastics or metalmaterial and has in cross section the shape of an inverted letter S witha flap portion 14 extending from one end of the S, as may be moreclearly seen'froni FIGS. 2 and 3. The S shape forms two channels 15 and22. The lampshade material is attached to the flap portion 14 and a hoop16 and legs 17 of a crossmember 19 having a loop 18 for attachment to aholder are fitted into the channels 15 and 22 respectively. The hoop 16is a loose fit in its channel 15 and the legs 17 are sprung in to thechannel 22.

Decorative trimming material is shown attached to the outer surface ofthe flap portion of the strip 14.

The lower strip 13 would retain a strengthening hoop but of course therewould be no crossmember.

In the manufacture of a lampshade the covering material is firstattached to the upper and lower strips by stapling, stitching, stickingor welding. The shade is dispatched to a customer in the form of a kithaving the assembled covering material and strips stored flat and packedup with two wire hoops of appropriate sizes and a crossmember. To erectthe shade the wire hoops are first sprung into the channels 15 in thestrips and at the same time the covering material will be curved aroundthe hoops. The legs of the crossmembers are then sprung into the channel22 of the upper strip. The two ends of the covering material are finallyjoined by stitching, stapling, welding or sticking, the last mentionedmethod being preferred when ideally a heat resistant preappliedpressuresensitive adhesive would be used.

In an alternative embodiment of the flexible strip shown in FIG. 4 theshape of the flexible strip is modified in that it forms two channels 6,27 each arcuate in cross sectionforming an inwardly facing W, the onechannel for locating the hoop 28 and the other for locating acrossmember 29.

In a second alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the flexible strip ismodified in that it forms only one channel 30 having the shape of aninwardly facing C. In this case the crossmember 31 may be attached tothe hoop 32 (preferably by welding) and the hoop located in the channel.The legs of the crossmember may be omitted.

We claim:

I. A kit for forming a lampshade comprising a hoop, a piece of flexiblecovering material, a resilient preformed flexible strip which issubstantially as long as the circumference of said hoop, said striphaving a constant cross section, a first portion of said strip beingattached to one edge of said material and a second portion of said stripbeing shaped to provide a channel having a mouth of lesser width thanthe thickness of said hoop whereby said hoop may be sprung into saidchannel so that said strip and said covering material may be attachedresiliently to said hoop to form a lampshade.

2. A kit as claimed in claim I wherein a second hoop and a secondresilient preformed flexible strip is provided attached to saidmaterial, said second strip being substantially as long as said secondhoop and having a portion shaped to provide a second channel having amouth of lesser width than the thickness of said second hoop into whichsecond channel said second hoop may be sprung.

3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 in which there is a crossmember forattachment of the shade to a light fitting and engagement means forattaching said crossmember to said strip.

4. A lampshade comprising a hoop, a resilient preformed flexible striphaving a constant cross section, a first portion and a second portion ofsaid strip, a frustoconical lampshade cover attached to said strip, saidfirst portion of said strip being attached to one edge of saidfrustoconical cover, and said second portion forming a channel having amouth of lesser width than the thickness of said hoop into which saidhoop is sprung.

5. A lampshade as claimed in claim 4 having a second hoop, a secondstrip of resilient preformed flexible material having a first portionand a second portion, said first portion of said second strip beingattached to the other edge of said frustoconical cover, and said secondportion of said second strip forming a channel having a mouth of lesserwidth than the thickness of said second hoop, into which said secondhoop is sprung.

6. A lampshade as claimed in claim 4 comprising a crossmember havingmeans for attachment to a light fitting, said first strip having a crosssection having a third portion shaped to receive the ends of saidcrossmember, said crossmember extending across said first hoop andhaving its ends engaged with said third portion.

1. A kit for forming a lampshade comprising a hoop, a piece of flexiblecovering material, a resilient preformed flexible strip which issubstantially as long as the circumference of said hoop, said striphaving a constant cross section, a first portion of said strip beingattached to one edge of said material and a second portion of said stripbeing shaped to provide a channel having a mouth of lesser width thanthe thickness of said hoop whereby said hoop may be sprung into saidchannel so that said strip and said covering material may be attachedresiliently to said hoop to form a lampshade.
 2. A kit as claimed inclaim 1 wherein a second hoop and a second resilient preformed flexiblestrip is provided attached to said material, said second strip beingsubstantially as long as said second hoop and having a portion shaped toprovide a second channel having a mouth of lesser width than thethickness of said second hoop into which second channel said second hoopmay be sprung.
 3. A kit as claimed in claim 1 in which there is acrossmember for attachment of the shade to a light fitting andengagement means for attaching said crossmember to said strip.
 4. Alampshade comprising a hoop, a resilient preformed flexible strip havinga constant cross section, a first portion and a second portion of saidstrip, a frustoconical lampshade cover attached to said strip, saidfirst portion of said strip being attached to one edge of saidfrustoconical cover, and said second portion forming a channel having amouth of lesser width than the thickness of said hoop into which saidhoop is sprung.
 5. A lampshade as claimed in claim 4 having a secondhoop, a second strip of resilient preformed flexible material having afirst portion and a second portion, said first portion of said secondstrip being attached to the other edge of said frustoconical cover, andsaid second portion of said second strip forming a channel having amouth of lesser width than the thickness of said second hoop, into whichsaid second hoop is sprung.
 6. A lampshade as claimed in claim 4comprising a crossmember having means for attachment to a light fitting,said first strip having a cross section having a third portion shaped toreceive the ends of said crossmember, said crossmember extending acrosssaid first hoop and having its ends engaged with said third portion.